REPORT #211 March 2000
DID PM SAID MUSA, BETRAY BELIZEANS?

Produced by the Belize
Development Trust

On the Belize Culture List there is a lot of debate about
political reform and what it would take to change things for the
better. To make a more democratic and representative nation that
would build a real strong nation. Not this existing British
African Empire Colonial One Party rules type of governing by
patronage and elected townie despots in a plantation colonial
model.

Among the bright sparks new to the debating forum, is a Mayan
individual, one Valentino Shal. He reminds me of Said Musa when
he was a young man, trying to find the answers to the world and
the problems of building Belize. With his use of COMRADE and
all. It must be some sort of exploratory rebellious youthful
educational phase youngsters go through? Like Said Musa as a
young man, looking at Valentino today is like looking in a
historical mirror. The do-gooder, the rebellious youngster who
would upset the status quo and build a new brighter better
Belize.

Which brings us back to our new Prime Minister. The honeymoon
is over and the question remains. Did he betray us Belizeans?
When one listens to the youngster Valentino and remembers Said
Musa's youth, it is deja vu!

The writing was on the wall though, when our Prime Minister did
betray the Belizean people with the promised Referendum Act, by
gutting it of any useful parts. The ability of the people to
petition to change things! That was self serving by the PUP
party hierarcy.

Now the Political Reform Commission thing, made up of townies.
Which is also a betrayal of the nation of Belize, being a simple
one-sided argument out of context on any national debating level.
But it serves the ruling PUP party townie clique to continue the
status quo and tinker with the African plantation model of
colonial domination and exploitation of rural Belize.

There are roughly 288 to 300 communities in the nation of
Belize. One debater on the Belize Culture List, Peter Singfield,
suggested that each village be given a representative at the
National Government level in order to more represent the
different needs and ideas of different parts of the Nation.
Perhaps 288 representatives might be too many? But maybe every 5
communities could elect one of the five to represent the others
as a group at the National Legislative level of government?

Then Report # 87 on the Development Issues puts forth other
ideas for geographical representation along with more better
gender equality in National level government. There are probably
other ways, yet not discussed.

Did Said Musa betray Belizeans? I don't think so!
Disappointed many of us, I am sure. Like this new Valentino
Toledo Mayan, headed for martydom like Julian Cho; both he the
youth of today and Said Musa of his youth of yesteryear had that
spark that promised change and something new for Belize in the
way we govern ourselves. With better political power sharing at
the national level. Said Musa is no longer a youth. He finally
got to be Prime Minister. Unfortunately, he waited too long.
Anything good is going to come before you are 32 years old. After
that the fire dies out in the belly. In that, the PM fulfilled
the promise we all saw who watched him in his youth. But there
was never any guarantee that he would become suddenly democratic.
And so it proves to be. Just one more ordinary person, not
living up to his potential, as a teacher might say on a report
card. A talented, educated, smart, intelligent man. A good
administrator in the status quo, but definitely not the man to
lead the nation of Belize on his present course to a better type
of democracy. In that aspect it is disappointing, the result is
just copycat average. But a betrayal no! Disappointing for what
might have been, yes! More stagnation for Belize and more of the
same through the years ahead. The current electoral system does
not work. Will Valentino Shal, or any like him form an
independent political party and make that change Belize so badly
needs?

Niall Gillet explains it so succintly. The dictatorship of the
old colonial capital merchandising, service centered parasites
and snob academic intellectuals are ruining the potential of
Belize as a nation. As Niall puts it:

" without economic empowerment, there is no political
empowerment." Niall goes on to point out that, the debaters on
the belize culture list give the party hacks, particularly that
group or clique from the old colonial capital are given too much
credit for patriotism. Asked for an intent to build a nation,
where such patriotic intent does not exist. It is all hypocrisy.
Niall says that townie crowd have NO VISION. NO ACUMEN.
Simply put he says, " they are selfserving, and small minded. A
foresighted group of elected representatives would want to
increase the dollar base. These guys ( townies from Belize City)
just use it ( the government offices and national credit card and
treasury) as a "lifestyle" private company. One which supports
the lifestyle they ( parasitic non-producing townies) enjoy.
Status quo and all that."

Niall went on to point out that the brothers from the old
colonial capital that are exploiting all of the nation of
productive Belize as elected political managers, are not really
about keeping " the Brothers down", but simply do what they do
for fun and personal profit. They inherited the African style
plantation colonial governing model and they don't want to rock
the boat any more than is absolutely necessary "to maintain their
income and perks!" They put selfishness above patriotism and
innovation and leadership.

In other words, we are expecting too much from the PUP and UDP
political party cliques from the old port town who control the
nation of producers in the districts. As Niall explains; they
have no evil intent, but no foresight either. They only want to
feed off the existing system for income and perks.

What do you think? You students in the High Schools, Colleges
and University of Belize? Would you form a political party and
challenge these parasitic townies of the old port at the ballot
box? Can you change Belize and the way we govern to make it a
strong democracy? The political process says, you have to form a
new party. The current Prime Minister Said Musa is an example of
how the existing party processes subvert talent and lose Belize
the nation, the abilities and promise of a once bright spark on
the political scene. So, the obvious lesson here, is to avoid
the existing political parties and form a new one to challenge
the status quo. Are you ready for that?